The archaeological area of the Grotte di Catullo is located on the shores of Lake Garda, at the tip of the Sirmione peninsula. The name "Grotte di Catullo" has Renaissance origins and indicates the collapse of the roofs and walls of the ancient Roman villa. Thanks to recent investigations it has been possible to trace the chronology of the Roman villa, built in the Augustan age and then abandoned in the 3rd century AD. The villa covers a total area of about two hectares and has a rectangular plan with two avant-corps on the short sides and is spread over three floors. A small archaeological museum of Sirmione has been opened inside the archaeological area, which exhibits finds from Sirmione and some sites on the lower Lake Garda. The Museum is a treasure trove of history and art as it collects a series of testimonies from the Roman and medieval ages, as well as from the Lombard necropolis. Very important are the decorative finds from the residential areas of the villa. Of great value are certainly the grave goods found in Lonato and the materials from the Roman villas of Toscolano Maderno and Desenzano - Fustinella.